Stunned cabin crew got a slippery surprise when they found an unusual stowaway which had slithered onto a plane in Mexico and made it to Glasgow Airport.

The Scottish SPCA was called after a snake was discovered hiding under a passenger’s seat once the plane had touched down at the Paisley terminal.

Crew members who had manned the flight from Cancun managed to stay calm, and placed the sneaky stowaway inside a box while they waited for animal experts to arrive.

Senior SSPCA inspector Billy Linton, who has more than 30 years of experience as a zoo keeper, took the juvenile snake to the charity’s animal rescue and rehoming centre, in Cardonald, to be looked after.

The roaming reptile has been named Furtivo – which is Spanish for ‘sneak’.

Mr Linton said: “We have had the snake examined by a vet and, although we can’t be 100 per cent certain, we believe he is of the Dryadophis family, which are commonly referred to as American smooth-scaled racers.

“Racers aren’t venomous but, like all snakes, they can bite, and Furtivo is very feisty.

“Although small at the moment, he is still a juvenile and has a lot of growing to do.

“The staff at Glasgow Airport remained remarkably calm when faced with what must have been a rather unwelcome passenger.

“I can only imagine that Furtivo managed to sneak his way onto the plane while it was waiting to take off in Cancun, although it is also possible he has hitched a lift in someone’s hand luggage.”

The discovery is hardly as dramatic as the 2006 Samuel L Jackson movie Snakes On A Plane, which featured hundreds of slithery guests being released on a flight in an attempt to kill a trial witness.

But Mr Linton said people would be surprised by the number of unusual animals who hitch a ride on planes.

He added: “We have rescued several exotic creatures from international flights, including scorpions, spiders, turtles and even giant land snails, so this isn’t as unusual as many people might think.

“Furtivo will remain here until we can find him a home with someone who has the necessary experience and knowledge to look after such a creature.”